Weaving-machine.



- N0. 68U,705. PatentedjAug. 20, [90L D. S. EAHHART.

WEAVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1901.)

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No. 680,705. Patented Aug. 20, I90]. I]. S. EARHART.

WEAVING MACHINE.

(Apiwlication filed Mar. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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No. 680,705. Patented Aug. 20, 1901; D. S. EARHAHT.

WEAVING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 11 1901.)

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DAVID S. EARHART, OF DE LAND, FLORIDA.

WEAVING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,705, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed March 11, 1901. Serial No. 501552. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID S. EARHART, a citizen of the United States, residing at De Land, in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Weaving-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in machines based upon the principles of a loom in operation for making a woven-straw fabric or material, which I find of great utility or service, among other purposes, as a covering or protection, espe cially for celery, and also as a tree and shrubloery protector.

It has for its object to provide for convenience and facility of operation, simplify the construction and arrangement of parts, and otherwise promote the utility of the device.

It consists of the novel features of construction and the general combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a side view thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a crosssection, and Fig. 5 is a view showing the fabric produced by the machine.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, as they may be changed or varied at will without departing from the spirit of my invention and the same yet remain intact and be protected.

' In carrying out my invention I suitably construct an upright frame or support 1, within which are arranged, about at the center, the heddles 2 3, each comprising a series of spacedapart vertical slats or bars 4: 4, connected together by cross pieces or bars 5 5 at the bottom and top, respectively. Said vertical bars or slats are adapted to fit and slide in between each other, the lower-end cross-bars of one heddle being duplicated for both sides thereof and those of the upper end of the other heddle being similarly duplicated for both sides. Said cross-bars extend into vertical grooves 6 in vertical side pieces 7, suitably secured to the frame 1. The heddles 2 3 are connected by straps 8 8 to rolls 9 9", respectively, arranged or hung in the vertical pieces 7 at their upper and lower ends, respectively. The lower roll 9 has connected to it near its ends chains or lines 9", coiled around it a number of times and reaching upward and connected at their upper ends each to one end of a centrally-pivoted lever 9, suitably fulcrumed in top bars of the frame 1. The opposite end of each lever 9 has also connected to it a chain or line 9 for enabling the attendant or operator to conveniently manipulate the heddles connected up, as before described, with said roll. The purpose of duplicating this arrangement of parts is to adapt the machine to be worked by two operators or attendants, one at each side of the machine. Said heddles may be actuated in any other practicable way, as will be readily appreciated.

The heddles have their vertical bars or slats 4 at provided with holes or apertures 45", one in each slat, through which pass the weaving wires or threads 12 12. Said holes as said heddles are reciprocated carry said wires or threads alternately past or above and below a median line centrally of the heddles, causing said threads or wires to conjointly form loops, whereby a quantity or layer of material or straw alternately fed from each side of the machine, (as presently described,) as predetermined by the feeding thereof to said threads or wires, by shuttles (presently described) moved at right angles or transversely to the movement of said threads or wires is received between said threads or wires. As successive layers or quantities of straw or ma terial are similarly fed between said threads or wires at each stroke of the oppositely-moving heddles said threads or wires closely connect up or weave said layers of straw into a product or fabric, such as disclosed by Fig. 5. The threads or wires 12 12 are passed in one direction over or around a roll 13, suitably journaled in uprights in the rear end of the frame 1 and extended back to a distant point and weighted to put said threads or Wires under suitable tension. The threads or wires are passed in the opposite direction between parallel rolls ll 14, suitably journaled in uprights at the forward end of the frame 1 to provide for passing the material as it is woven also between said rolls to flatten or compact the same to render it substantially homogeneous and solid, said rolls having preferably passed through the projecting end portions of their journals hand bars or levers 14 14, arranged at right angles to each other, for their actuation.

Arranged and secured laterally of the frame 1, one at each side and centrally thereof, are two chutes or races 15, and within each chute slides a shuttle 16 to receive and provide for the feeding of the straw or material to the strings or wires 12 12 in weaving said material into the required fabric or product, said shuttle or shuttles being actuated by the hand of the operator. The duplication of these parts provides for feeding the straw or material from both sides of the machine to the heddle-carried Wires. The shuttles to provide for their automatic return movement after having been released from the hand of the operator have each attached to it a weighted cord or line 14 passed over a pulley or roll 14 hung in the outer end of each race or chute; also, each shuttle-race has one side open and at the upper edge of its opposite closed side an overhanging ledge or portion 11, while the shuttle has its open side disposed next to said closed side of said race. By this construction of shuttle-race clearance is permitted for the finger or hand in moving the shuttle with its contained straw as the latter is fed to the heddle Wires or strings.

A suitable lay or batten l7, pivoted or arranged within the frame 1, is adapted to be operated by the attendant, so as to provide for forcing or moving the woven-together layers of straw or material constituting the fabric toward the compressing and delivering rolls 14 14. Among other uses to which said product or fabric may be applied is as a covering for bleaching and aiding the cultivation of celery and as a means for the protection of trees and shrubbery, as desirable especially in very warm sections of the country, which of course needs no further explanation herein, &c.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isr 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of interacting heddles, each having perforations or holes, through which are passed the weaving threads or wires, a chute or race arranged laterally of said heddles, shuttles contained therein and having connected thereto a weighted line or cord passed over a pulley hung in said chute, at its outer end, a pivoted lay, and opposed com pression rolls, substantially as set forth;

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of interacting heddles, each having perforations or holes through which are passed the weaving threads or wires, and a chute or trough open at one side and provided at its opposite inner side, with an overhanging ledge, a shuttle arranged in said chute and having attached thereto a weighted cord or line passed over a pulley hung in said chute or trough, at its outer end, said chute being arranged laterally of said heddles, a pivoted lay and opposed compressionrolls, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID S. EARHART.

Witnesses:

ISAAC A. STEWART, GRANT BLY. 

